Hardening Water

[FishyFriends]

We have set up all our tanks with rainwater from a poly tank, and believe that it is very soft (doesn't register on GH reading), On the realisation that our water is probably way too soft, and that hardening the water will help protect the fish more, we were wondering how to go about this once you have the tanks already set up.

We believe that you use conditioning salts or the like to do so, but aren't exactly sure on the way to go about this as we have fish in every tank.

Any suggestions on the safest way to go about this would be great.

[GoGuppy]

Hi

What I would do (and have done on several occosions) is place some crushed oyster shells in an old stocking and either place this in the filter if it has the space or otherwise just in the back of the tank somewhere. The effect of hardening the water is quicker if placed in the filter.:)

In any case, measure the water hardness a couple of days after placing in the shell and again weekly afterwards until you have achieved the desired GH. Then you can remove the crushed shell.

Other crushed shell would work also, but I believe that crushed oyster shell has traditional chinese medicine health benefits..:p

Good luck

Cheers

[Woodsy]

Or just look at the directions on the container of your conditioning salts. It will tell you how much a teaspoon raises the GH per L. Add it in increments, measuring the GH the next day, until you get it where you want it.

[FishyFriends]

thanks guys shall have a look at a packet when i go to LFS tomorrow

[wombat1100]

Or just look at the directions on the container of your conditioning salts. It will tell you how much a teaspoon raises the GH per L. Add it in increments, measuring the GH the next day, until you get it where you want it.

Both good suggestions , one thing i feel i must add, is make sure you "patiently wait" (theres those 2 words again we hate) and check the changes the following day.Slow and steady wins the race with all these things.
if you test too soon the product won't have had the time to dissolve fully and you will get a false reading.
I can remember real early on in my fish keeping i had the same problem, added salts, waited an hr tested , added more , another hr tested etc etc next day i had the opposite problem! and then i had to do water changes!!!
I know i don't have to tell you about patience though Hayles!!!